University of Central Florida researchers thought the ease of the using the program 麻豆精品 S檚 automatic mode would be a huge hit. But they were wrong 麻豆精品 S� many participants in a pilot study didn 麻豆精品 S檛 like it because it was 麻豆精品 S渢oo easy. 麻豆精品 S�
Most participants preferred the manual mode, which requires them to think several steps ahead and either physically type in instructions or verbally direct the arm with a series of precise commands. They favored the manual mode even though they did not perform tasks as well with it.
麻豆精品 S淲e focused so much on , 麻豆精品 S� said Assistant Professor Aman Behal. 麻豆精品 S淲e didn 麻豆精品 S檛 expect this. 麻豆精品 S�
John Bricout, Behal 麻豆精品 S檚 collaborator and the associate dean for Research and Community Outreach at the University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work, said the study demonstrates how people want to be engaged — but not overwhelmed — by technology. The psychology theory of Flow describes this need to have a balance between challenge and capacity in life.
麻豆精品 S淚f we 麻豆精品 S檙e too challenged, we get angry and frustrated. But if we aren 麻豆精品 S檛 challenged enough, we get bored, 麻豆精品 S� said Bricout, who has conducted extensive research on adapting technology for users with disabilities. 麻豆精品 S淲e all experience that. People with disabilities are no different. 麻豆精品 S�
The computer program is based on how the human eye sees. A touch screen, computer mouse, joystick or voice command sends the arm into action. Then sensors mounted on the arm see an object, gather information and relay it to the computer, which completes the calculations necessary to move the arm and retrieve the object.
Behal is seeking grants to translate the study 麻豆精品 S檚 findings into a smoother 麻豆精品 S渉ybrid 麻豆精品 S� mode that is more interactive and challenging for users and features a more accurate robotic arm. Laser, ultrasound and infrared technology coupled with an adaptive interface will help him achieve his goals.
The key is to design technology that can be individualized with ease, Behal said. Some patients will have more mobility than others, and they may prefer a design closer to the manual mode. Though the automatic mode wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 popular in the pilot study, it may be the best option for patients with more advanced disease and less mobility.
Bob Melia, a quadriplegic who advised the UCF team, says the new technology will make life easier for thousands of people who are so dependent on others because of physical limitations.
麻豆精品 S淵ou have no idea what it is like to want to do something as simple as scratching your nose and have to rely on someone else to do it for you, 麻豆精品 S� Melia said. 麻豆精品 S淚 see this device as someday giving people more freedom to do a lot more things, from getting their own bowl of cereal in the morning to scratching their nose anytime they want. 麻豆精品 S�
Behal 麻豆精品 S檚 initial research was funded with a grant from the National Science Foundation and through a pilot grant from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Behal presented his findings at the 2010 International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Anchorage, Alaska.
Behal is collaborating with Bricout, who previously worked in the College of Health and Public Affairs at UCF, to apply for another grant in the area of assistive technology.
The research team includes Dae-Jin Kim, Zhao Wang, and Rebekah Hazlett from UCF,聽聽 John Bricout from UT Arlington, and Heather Godfrey, Greta Rucks, David Portee and Tara Cunningham from Orlando Health Rehabilitation Institute. The institute helped recruit patients for the study.
A UCF faculty member since 2006, Behal has a joint appointment in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the NanoScience Technology Center. He received his master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree from the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai, India, and a Ph.D. from Clemson University in South Carolina.